Rancho Cordova, Calif., February 12, 2010—Eyefinity®/OfficeMate® today announced that their online panel discussion, “Stimulus Money: What Do I Need to Know?” attracted more than 500 attendees who registered for the event. Offered on February 5 and 8, the free, web-based panel discussion provided an overview of the HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act), and explained the specific requirements that eyecare professionals must meet in order to qualify for federal stimulus money available to them in 2011.

Eyecare professionals who may have missed the live, online panel discussion can access a recorded version of “Stimulus Money: What Do I need to Know?” under the HITECH Act news section at www.officemate.net. The website also features a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions about the HITECH Act.

“The large turnout for our panel discussion is another sign that eyecare professionals remain focused on understanding how to qualify for the federal stimulus money available to them,” said C. Edward Buffington, Chief Operating Officer for Eyefinity/OfficeMate. “We are committed to providing our users with access to education from leading experts so that they can position their practice to take full advantage of the money available through the HITECH Act.”

The panel explored how practices can achieve “meaningful use” of electronic medical records (EMRs), discussed the benefits of e-prescribing and underscored the importance of practices taking swift action to ensure eligibility of receiving the available stimulus funds. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the HITECH Act includes $19.2 billion in federal stimulus funds that have been appropriated to speed the adoption of certified EMRs.

The panel included Jim Tate, president of EMR Advocate LLC., which provides consulting services to EMR vendors, developers and others in the health information technology industry. Tate, who currently serves as a consultant to Eyefinity/OfficeMate was joined on the panel by Lorie Lippiatt, O.D., of the Salem Eyecare Center in Salem Ohio; Kim Castleberry, O.D., of Plano Eye Associates in Plano, Texas; and Ryan Wineinger, O.D., of Wineinger Vision Associates in Shawnee, Kansas.

About Eyefinity®/OfficeMate®

As part of the VSP® family of companies, Eyefinity/OfficeMate is the premier solutions provider serving over 26,000 eyecare professionals with innovative business solutions. Eyefinity/OfficeMate provides Web-based solutions such as frame and lens ordering, claims processing, personalized Web sites with email communication tools, industry webinars and resource guides. Customers throughout the United States and Canada use software solutions including OfficeMate practice management, ReportWRITER patient communications, ExamWRITER electronic medical records and the OfficeMate Enterprise multilocation version.

Eyefinity/OfficeMate has an international presence with its recent acquisition of Monkey Software®, an optical practice management software company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Monkey Software’s industry-leading solution Optomate® serves more than one-third of optometry offices in Australia and New Zealand.